DANGER » was throwing good cutters to both sides

TORONTO -- David Clarkson was one of several Toronto Maple Leafs who unburdened themselves on Tuesday. Clarkson finally scored his first goal as a Maple Leaf as Toronto beat the New York Islanders 5-2 for its second win in a row. The 29-year-old signed with the Maple Leafs as an unrestricted free agent in the off-season and was unable to score in his first 11 games with the team. "The biggest thing is that we won the game tonight," said Clarkson. "Ive tried to preach that the whole time. The chances were there, but Im here to win. "It does feel good, I guess, to get some people off my back a little bit," he joked. Phil Kessel also broke out of a mini slump, scoring a pair of goals. They were Kessels first goals in five games. He had just one point in his past seven. "Hes a highly talented player and doesnt need many chances to score goals," said linemate James van Riemsdyk. "Two sweet chances and in the back of the net. "Sometimes it comes in streaks -- its a long year. Hes got 12 goals in 21 games. Thats pretty good." Meanwhile, Trevor Smith had his first multipoint effort of his NHL career, scoring the first goal of the game for the Maple Leafs just 22 seconds in and adding a pair of assists for a three-point night. He has five points in three games since being recalled from the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League and six points in 12 games overall this season. "Im just trying to fill some spots for now," Smith said. "Its always tough when you have injuries, but injuries happen. Its part of the game. "You just got to come in, try to do the best you can, play confidently and work with what you got. The guys have been really great welcoming me and making it easy for me to play my game." And Joffrey Lupul had three assists to bust out of his recent slide. After starting the season with 10 points in his first nine games, he had just two points in his next nine before his trio of helpers Tuesday. Mason Raymond also scored for the Maple Leafs (13-7-1) and Jonathan Bernier made 36 saves for the win. Casey Cizikas and Frans Nielsen replied for New York (8-11-3). Kevin Poulin stopped 19 shots in the loss. After Smith opened the scoring, the game remained 1-0 until midway through the second period. With Cal Clutterbuck off for tripping, Kessel took a pass from Lupul, curled inside the Islanders blue-line and snapped a shot from inside the right circle past Poulins blocker hand. It was Kessels team-leading 11th goal of the season. Toronto kept New York off the board until there were 11 seconds left in the second period. Cizikas got a breakaway behind the defence, deked to his left and slid the puck through Berniers legs to cut the Leafs lead to 2-1. Toronto regained its two-goal lead 3:39 into the third period. A mix-up at the New York blue-line by the Islanders defence gave the Leafs short a 2-on-0 break. Nikolai Kulemin was stopped by Poulin, but Raymond was able to backhand the rebound in for his eighth goal of the season. Clarkson put the game away at 12:52, snapping a shot top corner by Poulins glove hand. "That was a helluva shot," Van Riemsdyk said. "Hes been contributing for us in a lot of different ways out there and its nice to see him get rewarded with a goal. Im sure hes pretty happy about that, too." Nielsen cut the lead to 4-2 at 15:14, but Kessel snapped home his second of the game -- 12th of the season -- less than two minutes later on a 2-on-1 break with Van Riemsdyk to make it 5-2. Notes: Nazem Kadri sat out the third and final game of his three-game suspension...Announced attendance was 19,446. Jose Juan Barea Jersey . Trailing 4-1 in the final set, Sharapova steadied her erratic service game and took command again to beat the 56th-ranked American 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 on clay at the Magic Box tennis centre. 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SAN FRANCISCO -- After slow starts to the season, Ryan Vogelsong and Pablo Sandoval have had a resurgence that has helped send the San Francisco Giants to the top of the standings. Vogelsong struck out seven in 6 2-3 innings of a second straight scoreless start and Pablo Sandoval homered for the fourth time in six games to lead the Giants to a 2-1 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Saturday night. "I feel like when Im out there, I can throw anything in any count," Vogelsong said. "Thats a great feeling. Its not always like that, but the last couple of games it has been that way. It definitely helps your mentality on the mound." Vogelsong (3-2) followed up seven scoreless innings against Miami by limiting the Twins to three hits and one walk to give him a 1.35 ERA in his past six starts. The win gave the Giants (31-18) the best record in baseball. Josmil Pinto broke up the shutout bid with a leadoff homer in the ninth inning against Sergio Romo, but that was all the Twins could manage. Romo retired the next three batters to get his 16th save in 18 chances. Samuel Deduno (1-3) allowed two runs in 5 2-3 innings after being moved up a day in Minnesotas rotation, but ended up on the short end because of the performances from Vogelsong and Sandoval. Sandoval got off to a slow start in a contract year and was batting under .200 as late as May 13. But he has found his stroke of late to lead the way for San Francisco. "He has his timing and he has his confidence going," manager Bruce Bochy said. "That usually comes with success. That was the longest tough streak he has ever gone through. It looks like he has come out of it and is making great contact right now." Sandoval gave San Francisco the lead for good in his first at-bat for the second straight night, sending an 0-2 pitch from Deduno over the wall in left-centre to lead off the second inning with his sixth homer of the season.dddddddddddd It was a rare two-strike hit for Sandoval, who came in with just five hits in 79 at-bats for an .063 average after reaching two strikes. "I missed a changeup," Deduno said. "I like to throw it on the ground, but it was just a little bit up. Thats why he hit it." Sandoval added a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning after a poor throw from second baseman Brian Dozier cost the Twins the chance at a double play. That was enough for Vogelsong, who pitched out of trouble in the first three innings before finding his groove. The Twins had a runner on second with one out in each of the first three innings, but couldnt score against Vogelsong, who has rebounded after posting a 7.71 ERA in his first four starts. "He was throwing good cutters to both sides of the plate," Twins outfielder Jason Kubel said. "If youre thinking cutter, hell throw the straight one in at you, too, and it gets guys to chase. Hes got a good curveball. When hes got his pitches, hes tough to hit." Vogelsong was replaced after making a throwing error on Aaron Hicks comebacker with two outs and no on in the seventh. Juan Gutierrez got pinch-hitter Chris Herrmann to ground out to escape the inning. NOTES: The Giants improved to 23-4 when scoring first. ... Minnesota OF Josh Willingham (left wrist) is expected to be activated from the DL on Monday when the team opens a four-game homestand vs. Texas. Oswaldo Arcia (right wrist) is also expected to be activated. ... Giants RHP Matt Cain will miss his scheduled start Monday because of an injured hamstring that did not feel 100 per cent during a pregame bullpen session. Yusmeiro Petit will start in his place. ... Madison Bumgarner (5-3) will start the series finale for San Francisco against Ricky Nolasco (2-4). ' ' '